Victims of police brutality in Homa Bay speak

Lameck Owuor, a 28-year-old man who was shot in Rongo town. [James Omoro, Standard]

Victims of police brutality are writhing in pain in various hospitals as they seek help from well-wishers.

At Homa Bay County Referral we met three survivors with bullet injuries on various parts of the body.

The victims sustained the injuries in Rongo town, Migori County on Thursday evening.

Lameck Owuor, a 28-year-old man was shot in the neck. Owuor, a resident of Rongo town could not utter any word on Thursday evening. This is due to abnormal swelling in his mouth and neck.

Journalists could only identify him through his records in the hospital.

The records indicated that he was shot in the neck, causing a fracture in his lower jaw. Swelling in the mouth continued to worsen, putting him in dire need of specialised medication.

Homa Bay County Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer Peter Ogola said they were planning to transfer him to Kisii County Hospital for specialised medication.

The swelling was putting his life in danger and could interfere with his respiratory system. "We want to refer him to a specialist in Kisii," Ogola said.

Another survivor Derick Otieno, 18, a resident of Rongo sustained a bullet injury on the upper right arm.

Otieno said he was shot on his way from his workplace to his house.

"I was trekking from where I cook doughnuts. I met police who were containing protesters. I suddenly realized I had been shot," Otieno said. He appealed to well-wishers to support him in meeting his medical bills.

"The main concern is my health. I appeal to well-wishers to support me so that I regain my health," he added.

Steve Olando, a 28-year-old resident of Rongo town was in agony too. Olando sustained a gunshot on his left shoulder near Rongo Primary School.

He was taken to Rongo Sub-County Hospital before being referred to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital.

Olando said he was not part of the protestors. He said he was going to Kamagambo Police Station to find out the whereabouts of his niece who had been arrested.

"I was going to visit my niece who had been detained at Kamagambo Police Station. I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my shoulder," Olando said.

On Thursday morning, six people from Homa Bay town were admitted to the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital with gunshot wounds.

They include Abdi Rashid who sustained gunshot wounds in the groin. The six were discharged on Friday.